Provincial water service summit

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is hosting a two-day Provincial Water Services Summit on the Blue Drop and No Drop Report.

The summit is taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, 26 and 27 March in Durban, and will focus on the resolutions and action plans that need to be implemented by Water Service Authorities (WSA) as agreed at the National Water Summit in January.

These plans are to solicit comments and deliberations on the published norms and standards of the Blue Drop and No Drop reports, and to discuss the proposed Water Regulation Workshop.

According to departmental spokesperson Wisane Mavasa, the primary goal of the summit is to ensure the submission and implementation of action plans that will address the deteriorating state of our water services.

“As the water sector regulator, DWS is required to ensure compliance with the minimum water quality norms and standards and efficient use of water. The Blue Drop and No Drop reports 2023 indicate that there has been a decline in drinking water quality and an increase in non-revenue water since the last reports were issued in 2014.”

“The Green Drop Progress Assessment Report 2023 also indicated a decline in the performance of municipal wastewater treatment systems, and therefore urgent action is required to prevent declining municipal water and sanitation services,” said Mavasa. The KZN

Provincial Water Summit is expected to be attended by all WSAs, and will include technical directors, area managers, officials responsible for water demand management and conservation, and plant superintendents.

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